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buyer, there are still opportunities in U.S. numismatics. Certainly one of the brightest stars in the numismatic galaxy is the coins value 1950 to 1970 cameo proof and special mint set series. 1950 to 1970 cameo proof coinage represents one of the last frontiers in u.s. numismatics, as few series offer the collector so much in terms of beauty, quality, scarcity, and eye-appeal - for so little, as the top quality cameo proof and special mint set coins from this era. it is one of the few series'' left in u.s. numismatics that offers the collector a chance to own scarce u.s. coins that represent the absolute ultimate in quality - often for a very modest price. most knowledgeable collectors and dealers would agree that there are five primary factors that help determine a coin''s desirability, value, and potential for future price appreciation. not necessarily in order of importance, they are: 1. eye-appeal, 2. quality, 3. rarity, 4. price, value and 5. potential for widespread collector appeal. quite simply, cameo proof coinage of the 1950 to 1970 era currently offer more eye-appeal, quality, rarity, and potential for widespread collector appeal per numismatic dollar than any other u.s. coin series i can of coins bu franklins i acquired, 100 rolls of 1963-d''s, a total of 2,000 coins, resulted in financial disaster value for me and my partner. oh, the bag quantity was original all right. all the rolls were in their original bank-wrappings, and had obviously never been unwrapped. the coins in these rolls were beautiful, bright blazers. we submitted the coins 125+ nicest coins to pcgs and ngc for grading, figuring if we got 40 or 50 ms 65''s we''d make a profit. the result? 5 ms 65''s!! the rest graded either ms 64 or ms 63. why? the majority had a couple too many bag marks (a common problem with bu value franklins), or had a bit too much pitting on the high-points of the devices (another common problem with bu franklins), or were too softly coins struck to value grade ms 65 (another common problem with bu franklins, or finally, had some very light hairline scratches, the result of having passed through a coin counter! by comparison, a single roll of late date walking liberty half dollars would likely have more gems among the 20 coins than the 1963-d franklins did among the 2,000. despite having populations a fraction of the walking liberty halves in gem condition, gem franklins are currently priced well below the levels walkers are currently selling at. additionally, if one wishes to compare the populations of untoned, brilliant ms 65 walkers to untoned, brilliant ms 65 franklins, the population differences are even more striking in favor of the franklins! collector, for many dates which were considered fairly common in uncirculated condition, such as the 1879-o and 1880-o morgan dollar, were disclosed to be extremely scarce or rare in gem ms 65 uncirculated grade and gem ms 65 prooflike! with these disclosures by a respected expert in the field, the morgan dollar market bloomed almost overnight. by the early 1980''s, it was the single largest area of collector interest in u.s. numismatics, simply because it was disclosed that in addition to the other benefits of 1. beauty, 2. quality, and 4. low price, many dates in the series also enjoyed coins a high degree of 3. rarity, in higher grade. the 1950-1970 cameo proof series is currently positioned at the same point the morgan dollar market found itself in the mid-1970''s. like the morgan dollar market at that time, the current cameo proof market has been enjoying increasing popularity among collectors with each passing year, despite the birth of published information on the subject. the fact is, high grade cameo examples of many of the rarer cameo dates are so rare that value few dealers have ever seen such coins. the cameo proof series, like the morgan dollar series, has been crying for a comprehensive book
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